Fatah, Islamic Jihad members hiding in school in West Bank village open fire at Israeli force passing by; soldiers fire back at gunmen. Palestinians report 16-year-old boy killed in exchange of fire, gunman injured in clashes dies of his wounds at hospital

Efrat Weiss|Published: 08.17.07 , 21:10

A 16-year-old boy was killed Friday evening during an exchange of fire between Palestinian gunmen and IDF soldiers in the West Bank village of Dan near Jenin, Palestinians sources reported.

Military sources confirmed that soldiers had clashed with gunmen in the area during an operation aimed at detaining wanted fugitives.

According to the Palestinians, the exchanges of fire erupted at around 9:30 pm between an Israeli force patrolling the village and members of the al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad's military wing, and of Fatah's Abu Amar Brigades.

The Palestinians also reported that the incident began as the IDF troops passed by a school in the village in which Fatah and Islamic Jihad gunmen were hiding. The operatives spotted the force and opened fire at the soldiers.

The troops fired back at the gunmen, and a number of other soldiers were dispatched to the area.

A 16-year-old boy, Nur Mare'i, was killed in the clashes. Medical sources in Jenin reported that eight signs of gunshots were found on all parts of his body.

A number of gunmen were injured in the incident, including Muhammad Darwish, a member of the Abu Amar Brigades, who were critically wounded and evacuated to the governmental hospital in Jenin, where he died of his wounds.

Jenin has been the focus of recent tensions between Palestinians security forces and the Islamic Jihad. About a week ago, Jihad member raided a Palestinian police station and drove away with a police jeep, after local police officers confiscated a car from a senior member of the group's military wing, claiming it was stolen.